Obituary: Ruth Goertz Reiselt

Tuesday

Sep 25, 2012 at 11:00 AM

Ruth Goertz Reiselt went home to be with our Lord on Tuesday (Sept. 18, 2012). Ruth was sleeping peacefully and in the presence of her loving husband, Les, and four adoring birdman cats, Smokey, Suki, Sachi and Seiji. Ruth was born in 1950 in Goessel to Earnest and Elma (Goertzen) Goertz. She was a graduate of Bethel College in North Newton, with a degree in music. Ruth’s working career was with REA and Associates in New Philadelphia, Ohio, where she had started as a secretary and retired as the senior tax partner of what had become one of the top 100 CPA firms in the nation. Ruth was the first female in her area to become prominent in male-dominated businesses and organizations. She was the first female partner in her firm, the first female officer at the Union Country Club in Dover, Ohio, and a member and officer of numerous boards and organizations both in Ohio and several nationwide and beyond. Ruth and Les retired from Ohio in 2003 and moved to North Port, Fla. Ruth was a member of the North Port Chorale, The Soundsations and the choir at Port Charlotte United Methodist Church in Port Charlotte, Fla., where she and Les were members. Ruth is survived by her loving husband, Les; four birdman cats; stepchildren, Erich (Christa) Reiselt of Ohio, and Kurt (Marie) Reiselt of Ohio; mother, Elma Goertz of Kansas; grandson, Jacob Reiselt; sisters, Emily Goretz of Washington, Dorothy Goertz of Connecticut, Esther (Stan) Epp of Kansas, and Naomi (Chris Ingraham) Goertz of Ohio; and brother, Joel Goertz of Kansas. Ruth also is survived by numerous nieces and nephews and their families. She was preceded in death by her father, Earnest; brother, Henry; and sister, Mary. A memorial service was Sunday (Sept. 23, 2012) at Port Charlotte, United Methodist Church, 21075 Quesada Ave., Port Charlotte, FL 33952. In Newton, a memorial service will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday (Sept. 29, 2012) at Tabor Mennonite Church, 891 Chisholm Tr., Newton, KS 67114. Arrangements were made in Port Charlotte, Fla.